2 saddleback clownfish fighting.

[pinetreex]

So I picked up 2 saddlebacks from a lfs, 1 slightly bigger than the other one and it seemed like they werent fighting so I got both of them (There was only 2 of them).

So I placed them in and now the bigger chases the smaller one out of the carpet nem and nips him while the smaller one shakes vertically, assuming hes trying to give in to the bigger one but still gets picked on.

I tried to look up some info online but seems like not much is out there about saddlebacks, so what should I do? Is this natural and will the bigger one mellow out or seperate them? Any advice is welcome.

 

[fishy boy]

How big is the tank?

 

[fishy boy]

If it 40 or bellow that could be the problem but it may stop

 

[pinetreex]

Its a 90 gallon, and they are the only fish in the tank. Also I added them yesterday so its been a day of aggression w/o changes.

 

[goat585]

They are difficult to pair in my experience. I have a spawning pair and they are always aggressive to each other. The babies are the worst with aggression out of any of the clownfish I have raised. They are fine for weeks then all a sudden the biggest one goes rogue and kills 4 or 5 of them. In my opinion there needs to be a extreme difference in size to have the best success. When I first got my pair the female was almost two inches and the male was barely an inch.

Aggression is going to be common for a couple of months until they bond. I would be ready to separate them if needed. They are worth the patience in the long run. My female is 5 plus inches now and the male is probably 3 inches and they are one of the coolest pairs I have.

 

[gg1111]

Keep them together! Its normal to be nem crazy/possessive. But it might take many months for the clown to accept the other! Once hormones kick in, and it wants a partner then he will be allowed in the nem!

 

[pinetreex]

Had to remove the smaller one because he was beaten up badly in a corner, now hes in the sump.